Architecture Design-I (Basic Studio Works)

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This section covers the fundamental principles of architectural composition (axis, datum, hierarchy, symmetry, emphasis, balance, harmony, rhythm), scale and proportion, and colour theory (colour wheel, colour schemes, texture, shade, and sociography).

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Principles of Composition Principle Description Axis An imaginary line established by two points in space, about which forms/spaces are arranged in a balanced/symmetrical manner Datum A reference line, plane, or volume that collects, measures, and organizes a pattern of forms/spaces by their common relation to it Hierarchy The articulation of the relative importance of forms/spaces by differentiating their size, shape, or placement Symmetry The balanced distribution of equivalent forms/spaces on opposite sides of a dividing line or point (axis/centre) Emphasis The deliberate accentuation of a particular element/space to draw visual/functional attention to it Balance The equilibrium of visual weight among elements in a composition, achieved symmetrically or asymmetrically Harmony The pleasing, consistent relationship among the parts of a composition, achieved through repetition/consistency of elements Rhythm A unifying movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alternation of formal elements/spaces Scale and Proportion Scale refers to the size of an element/building relative to a reference (commonly the human body); “human scale” relates comfortably to human dimensions, while “monumental scale” deliberately exceeds it to convey grandeur/importance.

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Proportion refers to the comparative relationship of dimensions/parts within a whole; classical proportional systems (e.g. the Golden Ratio/Golden Section, Modulor by Le Corbusier) have historically been used to guide harmonious dimensioning.

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Colour and Texture Concept Description Colour wheel A circular diagram organizing primary, secondary, and tertiary colours, showing their relationships (complementary, analogous, etc.) Colour schemes Systematic colour combinations: monochromatic (tints/shades of one colour), analogous (adjacent hues), complementary (opposite hues), triadic (three evenly spaced hues) Texture The tactile/visual surface quality of a material (smooth, rough, glossy, matte), affecting both appearance and perceived character of a space/form Shade A colour mixed with black, producing a darker variant; distinguished from a “tint” (colour mixed with white) Sociography The study of social relationships/interaction patterns within a group, applied in design to inform spatial layout that supports desired social behaviour/interaction

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This section covers the theory and principles of orthographic and pictorial (including perspective) projections, along with concepts of scale and dimensioning systems used in geometrical figures and building drawings.

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Orthographic Projection A method of representing a three-dimensional object using multiple two-dimensional views (plan, elevation, section), each obtained by projecting the object onto a plane perpendicular to the line of sight, with all projection lines parallel to each other.

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Standard orthographic views for buildings: plan (viewed from above), elevation (viewed from the front/side), and section (a cut view revealing internal structure/spatial arrangement).

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First-angle and third-angle projection are two conventional systems differing in the relative placement of the object and the projection planes; the choice affects the arrangement of views on a drawing sheet.

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Pictorial Projections Projection Type Description Axonometric (general) A pictorial projection showing three faces of an object in a single view, with projection lines parallel (no vanishing point), giving a three-dimensional impression while retaining measurability Isometric projection An axonometric projection in which all three principal axes are equally foreshortened and drawn at 120° to each other, commonly used for object/building massing sketches Oblique projection One face of the object is drawn true-shape/parallel to the picture plane, while receding lines are drawn at an angle (commonly 45°), often at reduced (e.g. half) scale Perspective Projection Represents an object/space as it appears to the human eye, with parallel lines converging toward one or more vanishing points on the horizon line, simulating the effect of visual depth.

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One-point perspective: a single vanishing point, used when one principal face of the object is parallel to the picture plane (e.g. viewing straight down a corridor).

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Two-point perspective: two vanishing points, used when the object is viewed at an angle so that two sets of horizontal lines recede toward two different vanishing points; commonly used for exterior building views.

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Three-point perspective: three vanishing points (including one for vertical lines), used for dramatic views looking sharply up or down at a tall object.

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Perspective views are drawn at various eye levels (e.g. normal eye-level view, bird's-eye/aerial view, worm's-eye view) depending on the intended viewpoint and design communication purpose.

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Scales and Dimensioning Systems Drawings are prepared at standard scales (e.g.

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1:100, 1:50, 1:20, 1:5) appropriate to the drawing type (site plan, floor plan, detail) and required level of information.

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Dimensioning systems for geometrical figures and building drawings must clearly and unambiguously communicate size, following consistent conventions (dimension lines, extension lines, arrowheads/ticks, units).

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This section covers the basic understanding of the core set of architectural drawings used to represent a design proposal: master plan, site plan, floor plans, elevations, and sections.

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Core Architectural Drawing Types Drawing Type Description Master plan A comprehensive plan showing the overall layout of a large site/development, including all buildings, open spaces, circulation, and infrastructure, typically at a relatively small scale Site plan A plan showing a specific building's placement on its plot, including plot boundaries, setbacks, access/driveways, parking, landscaping, and immediate site context Floor plan A horizontal cut view (typically taken at approx.

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1–1.2 m above finished floor level) showing room layout, walls, doors/windows, and furniture/fixture arrangement on a given floor Elevation A true, to-scale, non-perspective view of one exterior (or interior) face of a building, showing its height, openings, materials, and overall external appearance Section A vertical cut view through the building, revealing floor-to-floor heights, structural elements, internal spatial relationships, and construction details Key Conventions and Relationships A complete architectural drawing set typically includes multiple floor plans (one per storey), all elevations (typically four, one per principal facade direction), and at least one (often two, at right angles) sections, all cross-referenced to a common scale and grid/axis system.

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Floor plans, elevations, and sections must be mutually consistent — dimensions, openings, and levels shown in one drawing must correspond exactly to those shown in the others.

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The site plan situates the building's footprint (as shown in the floor plans) within its plot and immediate context, while the master plan situates the entire project within a larger site/development.

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This section covers the basic vocabularies and principles used in architecture, understanding basic literature/case studies and their analysis, and concept formulation through bubble diagrams as a foundational step in the architectural design process.

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Basic Vocabularies and Principles in Architecture Fundamental design vocabulary includes terms such as programme (the functional requirements/brief), context (site and its surroundings), circulation (movement paths), zoning (grouping of related functions), and form (the resulting three-dimensional shape).

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Basic design principles (as covered in 4.1 — axis, hierarchy, balance, rhythm, etc.) are applied practically during the design process to organize the building's programme into a coherent architectural form.

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Literature Review and Case Studies Step Description Literature review Gathering standards, norms, and reference material (building codes, area standards, precedent research) relevant to the project type Case study selection Identifying built examples of similar building typology/programme/scale for comparative study Case study analysis Systematic examination of a case study's site planning, functional zoning, circulation, structural system, and design response, to extract transferable lessons Synthesis Drawing conclusions from literature review and case studies to inform the design brief and initial design decisions for the current project Concept Formulation Through Bubble Diagrams A bubble diagram is a simplified, non-scaled diagrammatic tool using circles/bubbles (representing functional spaces) and connecting lines (representing relationships/adjacencies/circulation) to explore and communicate the functional organization of a design before detailed floor plans are developed.

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Bubble diagrams typically indicate relative size (bubble size), degree of relationship/adjacency required (proximity or connecting line weight), and desired circulation/access patterns between spaces.

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This diagrammatic step allows a designer to test multiple functional organization options quickly, before committing to specific dimensions, geometry, or structural grid — forming the conceptual bridge between programme/brief and initial concept/design.

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This section covers the basics of computer-aided design (CAD) and its application in preparing two- dimensional and three-dimensional architectural drawings, modelling, and rendering.

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CAD Fundamentals Computer-Aided Design (CAD) refers to the use of computer software to create, modify, analyze, and document a design, replacing (or supplementing) traditional hand-drafting methods.

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Vector-based drawing:

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CAD drawings are typically composed of precise mathematical/geometric entities (lines, arcs, circles, polylines) organized on layers, allowing accurate scaling, editing, and dimensioning.

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2D and 3D Applications Application Description 2D drafting Preparation of plans, elevations, sections, and detail drawings as precise, scaled, layered line drawings 3D modeling Construction of a digital three-dimensional representation of a design (using solid, surface, or mesh modeling techniques) to study form, massing, and spatial relationships Building Information Modeling (BIM) An advanced, data-rich extension of 3D modeling in which building elements carry associated information (material, cost, specification), enabling coordinated multi-disciplinary design and documentation Rendering The process of generating a realistic (or stylized) image from a 3D model, applying materials, textures, lighting, and environmental effects to communicate the design's appearance Benefits and Considerations CAD improves drafting accuracy, speed of revision, and ease of reproducing/sharing drawings compared to manual drafting.

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3D modeling and rendering assist design communication, client presentation, and early identification of spatial/design issues before construction.

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Layer organization, standardized templates, and consistent naming/numbering conventions are essential for efficient, error-free CAD documentation, especially on larger or multi-disciplinary projects.

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This section covers basic two-dimensional design exercises, basic volume composition incorporating mass and voids, and the design of small architectural projects such as a guard house, bus stop, studio, residence, café/restaurant, and primary school.

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Basic Two-Dimensional Design and Volume Composition Introductory studio exercises typically begin with basic two-dimensional design compositions (arranging shapes/lines/colours on a plane) to build foundational skill in composition principles (from 4.1) before progressing to three-dimensional work.

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Basic volume composition exercises explore mass and void — the addition, subtraction, and arrangement of simple three-dimensional forms (cubes, cylinders, etc.) — to develop spatial/formal design sensibility independent of a specific building programme.

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Small Design Project Typologies Project Type Key Design Considerations Guard house Very small footprint; visibility/sightlines for security monitoring; weather protection; simple, robust construction Bus stop Public shelter from weather; visibility/legibility from approaching traffic and to waiting passengers; durability against public/heavy use; accessibility Studio (artist's/small work studio) Good, consistent natural light (often north light to avoid harsh direct sun/glare for artists); flexible open working space; storage Residence (small house) Zoning of private/semi-private/public spaces (bedrooms vs. living/dining vs. entry); orientation for light/ventilation; human-scaled proportion; indoor-outdoor relationship Café/restaurant Efficient kitchen-to-dining service flow; seating capacity/layout and ambience; frontage/visibility to attract patrons; compliance with food-service/sanitation requirements Primary school Classroom module design (daylighting, ventilation, acoustics), safe/supervised circulation and play areas, age-appropriate scale, safety (fire egress, boundary security) General Small-Project Design Approach Even at small scale, the design process (programme → case study/literature → bubble diagram → concept → developed drawings) from section 4.4 applies, simply at a reduced scope/complexity.

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Site context, climate-responsiveness, and appropriate structural/material choice remain relevant considerations regardless of a project's small size.